TSC increases maternity and paternity leave for teachers

TSC CEO Nancy Macharia. FILE PHOTO | NMG

By LYNET IGADWAH
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Summary

• Female teachers are now eligible to fully paid four months maternity leave, in an enhanced package announced by their employer the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
• The enhanced package is in partial fulfilment of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
• The teachers were initially entitled to 90 days maternity leave that was exclusive of annual leave, and had to be applied for a month in advance.

Female teachers are now eligible to fully paid four months maternity leave, in an enhanced package announced by their employer the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

The enhanced package is in partial fulfilment of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The teachers were initially entitled to 90 days maternity leave that was exclusive of annual leave, and had to be applied for a month in advance.

“Female employers shall be entitled to 120 calendar days with full pay from the date of delivery and the teacher shall not forfeit her annual leave on account of having taken maternity leave,” said TSC chief executive Nancy Macharia announced in a statement.

Paternity leave for male teachers has been increased to 21 calendar days from the 10 days that have been the norm.

Teachers will also be eligible to a pre-adoptive leave of 45 calendar days with full pay from day of child adoption.

Dr Macharia noted the Commission had successfully migrated services related to leave application to an online platform.

This is part of reforms and innovations in the provision of teaching services as stipulated under the TSC 2019-2023 Strategic Plan.